Mulch Much?

There are exciting developments afoot in the “greening” of Scarsdale. The Scarsdale Village Trustees are currently working a new recommendation to encourage residents to mulch their leaves --rather than rake them to the curb for pick-up. On Monday night December 5, the Village Sustainability Committee met with residents and trustees to review new methodology for mulching in place.

Mulched leaves are a low cost way to naturally fertilize the lawn and landscape beds. The mulch improves the soil and acts as free fertilizer. Even better, mulching obviates the need to cart away leaves to recycling centers, saving manpower and fuel. Ten municipalities in Westchester have already joined a consortium in Westchester that is working to identify best practices for leaf mulching. In Irvington where a resolution to encourage mulching was passed, the mayor and town councilmen were so enthusiastic about the initiative that they all pledged to mulch themselves.

To get started, Scarsdale Village will test the new procedure in DeLima and Chase Parks in the fall, 2012 – where the Department of Public Works will shred, rather than blow the leaves. To get out the word, the Village plans a public education program with notices in the Village newsletter and brochures and handouts. In addition, a demonstration day, lead by the Cornell Cooperative Extension is planned for Sustainability Day, May 8th, 2012, in Scarsdale.

According to proponents of mulching, it is relatively easy to do. Using a lawnmower or a leaf shredder, the leaves can be shredded and left on the lawn to work their way into the soil. Watch this one-minute video to see how simple it can be to mulch leaves into the lawn, rather than blowing and collecting them.

Todd Wolleman, a Scarsdale resident and member of the Friends of the Scarsdale Parks conveyed his enthusiasm for this new initiative:

I just attended the Conservation Advisory Council meeting regarding leaf mulching and composting at Village Hall yesterday evening I am excited about the future for sustainability in our village. The notion that we are a park in a village is a precious thought. Our renewable resources consist of water, soil and energy. Let’s talk about our soil. We live in a glacial plan that consists primarily of clay. This clay has been amended by leaf droppings since the ice has receded about 10,000 years ago. I am continually amazed by the geological evidence of our recent history. The glacial outcroppings are everywhere in Scarsdale. The Post Road is a perfect example of the glacial plan where the hills were once carved by the glaciers.

What you may ask does this have to do with leaf mulching? Our clay soil needs to be amended by our leaves. We do not need to have our leaves carted off by the village staff to the County dump. The leaves need to be mulched or composted by village citizens. I have leaf mulched and composted for years and found it to be easy and rewarding. The Cornell Cooperative Extension service will be part of Scarsdale Sustainability Day, hosting a seminar on instructing your lawn maintenance professional in how to mulch your property. Saturday, May 5th, at the Scarsdale Middle School. A local campaign that will emulate Irvington’s successful effort in composting awareness will echo in Scarsdale. I intend to be amongst the first Scarsdale residents to display the badge of mulching awareness on my property and encourage my fellow village residents to inquire about sustainable efforts so that we have an environment that is transferable to our children in the offing.--Todd Wolleman, Cornell Agriculture NY Metro District Alumni Director